This Rock Cliff Place Midcentury Modern By Architect Byron Simonson Can Finally Be Yours

Rock Cliff Place is one of those streets you think cannot possibly exist in Dallas. After all, most people have a mental image of luxury real estate in our fair city. It’s seldom an architecturally significant Midcentury Modern home surrounded by so many trees you’d think you were in the middle of Connecticut, but here we are …

We’ve been captivated by this home for some time now. Palm Beach architect Byron Simonson designed it. Although not a well-known name like Addison Mizner, Simonson was actually the chief draftsman for Mizner before establishing his own firm in 1945. To give you some context, Mizner was known as Palm Beach’s leading architect in the 1920s. He, Maurice Fatio, and William Treanor transformed the architectural landscape of South Florida. Oddly enough, Fatio designed The Crespi Estate in Dallas. Simonson is best known for designing The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. So you can see, to have a home designed by Simonson is quite extraordinary.  

Architecturally significant homes are important on so many levels. Architects understand how to site a house on the land to take advantage of light and shade. They are not looking for a quick return on financial investment but to create a home with architectural integrity. Architects design residences that last, which is why this 1952 Rock Cliff Place Midcentury modern is as important today as it was when it was first constructed.

This was the home of Walter and Karen Levy for 30 years. If you’ve been in Dallas for a minute and really pay attention, you will know the Levy family patriarch, Milton, founded the family-held multibillion-dollar NCH Corporation (National Disinfectant Company). 

Lonnie and Jeffrey Grover had just built a house around the corner on Radbrook, so Lonnie drove by the Levys’ home every day. When the Rock Cliff Place Midcentury Modern went on the market, despite having a new home, they could not resist.

“The property is incredible,” Lonnie said.

Of course, updates are necessary for a 1952 home. When we wrote about it in 2018, we were all charmed by the wallpapered kitchen but, of course, started strategizing about what each of us would do in a renovation. Thankfully, the Grovers have taken care of that and quite a lot more. They approached the renovation slowly because honoring Simonson’s original design was important.

They did the work no one can see but that everyone appreciates, including updated lighting, electrical, new HVAC and a Control4 smart home system. They also did a bit of common sense work, opening up walls between the kitchen and living spaces and removing the home office to create a seamless view through the house. A secondary kitchen and banquette area were added to a room that was not seeing much use, and now everyone wants to be there!

Of course, the home is beautifully appointed because Lonnie owns Process Home, the wonderful upholstery and case goods store on Lovers Lane. If I were the buyer, I’d negotiate for everything that’s not nailed down because I cannot imagine it being more suitably furnished.

Sitting on 1.42 acres among live oaks, red oaks, and Japanese maples, this 6,147-square-foot Rock Cliff Place Midcentury Modern features so many living areas that we’ve lost count. It has four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a wine cellar, an exercise room, a three-car garage, and the all-important guest house with a living area, dining area, full kitchen, bedroom, and full bath. 

What more could you really want?

Compass Realtor Jonathan Rosen has 5315 Rock Cliff Place available for $4.495 million — and it’s one in a million!